Why did God create the planets?

I just read this article from the New York Times about Jupiter "taking one for the team" after it absorbed a comet impact earlier this week. It made me wonder, why did God create more than one planet? Many people ask the question "Is there life out there?" when they look at the other planets and galaxies and solar systems. Maybe a better question is "why did God create more than one planet?" What purpose do the other planets have in our daily lives? Is Jupiter really the "protector" of the Earth?

What does God's Word say? Genesis 1:14-19 records the fourth day of Creation. No mention of planets. Just "lights in the sky" and "stars" to serve as signs for seasons and for light during the day and night. In fact, there is no mention of why God created the planets, let alone any mention of planets in the Bible that I know of. Hmm...God once again gives us a little hint at how incredibly smart he is to have thought ahead about using large, gaseous planets to protect the earth from getting plastered by a comet. Should we be surprised?

Tentative WLA Singing Schedule Released

The following dates have been proposed for WLA Sundays in the WLA Association for the 2009-2010 school year. Pastors in the WLA association are asked to check these dates to make sure they work for the WLA Traveling Choir to sing in their congregations and email me with their confirmation. More information will follow when the dates have been confirmed:

Click to download PDF file of entire schedule

WLA Sundays
10/4/09 St. John’s, Markesan 9:00 AM (confirmed)
10/17/09 St. Luke’s, Knowles—SATURDAY 5:00 PM (confirmed)
10/18/09 St. John’s, Lomira 8:00 AM & St. Paul’s, Town Lomira 10:00 AM (confirmed)
11/8/09 Trinity, Dundee 8:00 AM (confirmed) & Immanuel, Campbellsport 10:15 AM (confirmed)
11/15/09 St. Peter’s, Eldorado 9:00 AM (confirmed)
12/6/09 St. Peter’s, Fond du Lac 7:45 & 10:30 AM (confirmed)
12/13/09 St. Paul’s, Mt. Calvary 10:00 AM (confirmed)
12/20/09 Faith, Fond du Lac 7:45 & 10:30 AM (confirmed)
1/10/10 Zion, Van Dyne 10:00 AM (confirmed)
1/17/10 Peace, Green Lake 9:00 AM (confirmed)
2/7/10 Mt. Zion, Ripon 9:00 AM (confirmed)
2/14/10 Grace, Pickett 9:00 AM (confirmed) & Zion, Oshkosh 10:15 AM (confirmed)
2/21/10 St. Peter’s, Theresa 9:00 AM (confirmed)
2/28/10 Immanuel, Oshkosh 9:00 AM (confirmed)
3/7/10 St. Matthew’s, Iron Ridge, 9:00 AM (confirmed) & Zum Kripplein Christi, Iron Ridge, 10:30 AM (confirmed)
3/28/10 Living Water, Oshkosh 9:00 AM (confirmed)
4/18/10 Emmanuel, Meccan 8:30 AM (confirmed) & St. John’s, Montello 10:15 AM (confirmed)

Concerts and Other Singing Events:
9/5/09 Derek Dobogai Memorial Run - Star Spangled Banner 8:30 AM
10/25/09 WLA Fall Choral Concert 7:00 PM
11/1/09 WLA Area Reformation Service 2:00 PM
12/9/09 AK or TC Advent Concert @ Good Shepherd, FDL 6:30 PM
12/21/09 WLA Christmas Concert I 7:00 PM
12/22/09 WLA Christmas Concert II 1:00 PM
1/31/10 WLA Let’s Celebrate Day 11:30 – 5:30 PM
2/27/10 Flyway District WSMA Vocal & Piano Solo/Ensemble @ Horicon H.S. 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
3/6/10 Flyway District WSMA Instrumental & Piano Solo/Ensemble @ Horicon H.S. 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
3/21/10 WLA 8th Annual Hymn Festival @ St. Peter's, FDL - confirmed 3:30 & 7:00 PM
4/9/10 WELS National Choralfest Pops Concert @ Grand Canyon U., Phoenix, AZ 7:00 PM
4/11/10 WELS National Choralfest Sacred Conc. @ Grand Canyon U., Phoenix, AZ 2:00 PM
4/21/10 State S/E Festival Finalists Recital in WLA Chapel 6:00 PM
4/24/10 WSMA State Solo/Ensemble Festival @ UW-Oshkosh 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
4/??/2010 WSMA Large Group Choir Festival @ ??? TBA
5/23/10 WLA Spring Choral Concert 7:00 PM
5/30/10 WLA Graduation 2:30 PM